> From SFC Cooper (V Corps MG)
ALCON,
CSM Preston and I went out to visit with the soldiers of 3-7 CAV today. This unit has been
fighting since day 1 as they moved from Kuwait to AS SAMAWAH to AN NAJAF. CSM Perhane
took us to see two of his troops. I have encapsulated the comments made by the leadership and
soldiers below.
PASS THIS ON TO ALL UNITS DEPLOYING TO THEATER!
Morale is high; soldiers have gotten their battle focus straight. Soldiers did not expect the well-
trained para-military troops they have been facing.
Weapons systems are performing well, especially the 25mm DU and 7.62.
Gas plugs on the 7.62mm MG have been the biggest maintenance issue. Units have now taken
the spare barrel gas plug; put it in a 7.62 ammo can with enough JP-8 to cover the plug. This self
cleans the gas plug as the mission continues. The gunner can now change gas plugs in a manner
of seconds and then drops the dirty one in the JP-8. This has worked very well for the units.
Everyone I talked to said to bring extra gas plugs!
There has been a few ammunition problems, mainly wrong ammunition being delivered to units.
The CAV OH-58D's were delivered L-model Hellfire's that are not compatible with the OH-58D's.
Division was able to cross level ammunition within the division but it still took time. Additionally,
Division was short on its initial draw of UBL.
Unit has had several combat losses.
Enemy has developed the TTP of putting an AA Gun in the back of a pickup and shooting into the
rear of a tank (Engine compartment). The CAV lost one tank initially to this tactic and then a
second after the tank went into a ditch. NOTE: This happened during a sand/dust storm that
reduced visibility to less the 5 meters at times. On the good news front, the tank that got hit
second also took RPG rounds and a mortar round to the blowout panels. Good news because the
ammunition cooked off with the driver trapped in the engine compartment and the blast doors
worked as advertised. Driver was later extricated with no injuries.
21 of 27 tanks are using fleet zero for SABOT and 17 of 27 for HEAT. Deviations for discrete zero
have been in the .01 to .02 range (Mainly up and left).
The MCD for the Bradley has not been effective at all, mainly due to the fact that it requires the
gunner to track the incoming missile taking him away from the battle. It also makes the TOW
launcher INOP while tracking. They are not using it, period.
Call for Fire has become the norm. A reactive FSO has motivated all troops to utilize his systems
and Call for Fire is now a norm and soldiers/leader's are getting really good at it. FSO's take
note! Maintenance, Maintenance, Maintenance...unit has had very minor maintenance issues
mainly due to good maintenance. Focus changed across the board from "it's on order...to let's get
it down" They wish they had not settled for the "it's on order" before they deployed across the
LD.
Civilian graphite is the key (Cooper or Liquid Wrench)...according to several PSG's. Weapons
gum up bad with CLP. 15W/40 is the current lubricant of use. Fort Knox get this going now....
Boresight daily. Units have been boresighting normally in the morning and doing an MRS update
at night. Some units actually do two a day but norm has been one.
Clean brass out of catchers and turret rings at every opportunity. Several Brad turrets jammed
during engagements due to brass.
PAQ4's and PVS-7B's are not help. Would rather have one PAS-13 per vehicle. Much better view
than PAQ4 or PVS7B's.
Unit had to cross level M4's within the troop due to the close-in combat they have seen. They
have taken to using captured AK-47's as crew protection weapons on tanks and Bradleys. Guys
were literally shooting enemy with 9mm from turrets in the dust storm.
Bradleys need a bustle rack or storage box. With the amount of ammunition units are carrying
they don't have enough room on their tracks. Some units have designed and locally purchased
storage boxes. Recommended units take specs to the BATMOBILE Machine shop and have them
built if able to.
COMMO for dismounts is a problem. Units do not have a means for Dismounts to communicate
without taking a radio from the brad and carrying a manpack. This is a slow time consuming
process that should not have to occur. A field phone, SABER Radio or squad radios would be a
great asset.
Remain Vigilant!
Be Paranoid!
Learn to wear heavy flak jackets in the turret. Chin defilade is now the norm.
JRTC Tactics most resembles the battlefield that we are currently facing.
Dual radios in tracks are needed.
On the enemy: Smart, Flexible, Utilizing all means at their disposal. They have moved ammo in
civilian trucks, held weapons to their own people's heads, and pretended to be doctors' with
asthmatic children. Pretend to surrender then open fire. Units recommend that you err on the
side of caution. Put all civilians down before they get close to you. SEARCH EVERYONE AND
EVERYTHING. Divorce the personnel from their vehicle be prepared for a car bomb.
Please pass this on to all tank/Bradley companies and anyone else who you think could benefit
from these lessons learned.
These fine troopers have been down the road and want follow on forces to be prepared. Not
once was I asked when they would be going home. They had just come out of 7 days of
continuous combat ops, gotten a good night's sleep, pulled some maintenance and are rearing to
get on with the job. I did not observe any loss of focus or shirking by the troops.
As one 1SG put it "Even the meatballs seem to get their act together when the bullets fly!"